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Arts & CultureExciting young Celtic/traditional group stopping at MERA as part of international tour

Exciting young Celtic/traditional group stopping at MERA as part of international tour

Bombadils-hi-res-2

The second concert in MERA’s Sunday Schoolhouse Spring Concert Series will feature one of Canada’s most exciting up-and-coming group of young musicians, who despite their training in jazz and chamber music, have been making a big splash in the folk/roots scene with their unique turn on Celtic and traditional music. Montreal’s the Bombadils will appear at the MERA Schoolhouse on Sunday, May 31 at 2:00 pm.

The Bombadils first connected in Montreal, over a shared curiosity surrounding the Celtic and bluegrass traditions. They were raised Canada-wide and trained in classical and jazz performance. The Bombadils bring music and high spirits to folk clubs, festivals, and forests, allowing their diverse influences to flow naturally through an array of instruments, including flute, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, upright bass, and harmony singing.

For over five years, The Bombadils have been enchanting audiences around the world with their unique fusion of traditional, world and progressive folk.

Endearingly described as “chamber folk,” the group of cinematic storytellers have intertwined their musical chops (all trained at Montreal’s esteemed McGill University) around an approachable performance style that takes listeners on a journey through history and towards the future of Canadian folk.

Each hailing from their own unique corner of Canada, group members Sarah Frank (fiddle, banjo, vocals), Luke Fraser (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Alan Mackie (bass, vocals) and Anh Phung (flutes, harmonica, vocals), first bonded over a shared curiosity and love of traditional music – but have since solidified their friendship with over 50,000 kilometers of touring and countless performances together.

After the release of their debut album, Fill Your Boots! in 2012, the group toured extensively across North America in support of the album, including performances at the Deep Roots Festival, Folk Alliance International, Eaglewood Folk Festival, as well as Fiddles on the Tobique Festival and Ethno Sweden, which took them to Rattvik, Sweden for a week of performing and sharing folk music with musicians from 15 different countries. Throughout their travels, they have shared the stage with notable artists Steve Poltz, Ruth Moody, James Keelaghan, Lennie Gallant, Laura Cortese, Fish and Bird, Kristin Andreassen and Sarah Jane Scouten.

In 2014, an artist residency at The Banff Centre served as the incubator for their sophomore album, Grassy Roads, Wandering Feet, which was released in the spring of 2015. Since then, the album has been creating a buzz in the folk scene, with folk-music magazine Penguin Eggs praising the group’s strong original compositions.

Now poised to embark on an international tour schedule that includes the U.K., Australia, Belgium, Sweden and a plethora of stops throughout Canada and the U.S., The Bombadils are set to bring the essence of Canadian folk – rooted in history, influenced by worldly neighbours, and with its own unique story to tell – to audiences the world over.

“The Bombadils have all the elements of a great band – a high level of musical proficiency, deep respect for the traditional roots of their material and an engaging repertoire which holds the attention of the listener from beginning to end.” – Amy Gajadhar, Canadian Folk Music magazine

“This was the band the came out of nowhere and slayed the audience, offering a richer experience for everyone.” – Liz Scott, artistic director, Eaglewood Folk Festival, Pefferlaw, Ontario

MERA’s Spring Concert Series concludes on June 28th, with a performance by flamenco guitar wiz, Jorge Miquel, and his ensemble (flamenco singers & dancers).

The Bombadils appear at MERA Schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners on Sunday, May 31st, at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $22 in advance ($20 for MERA members) and are available at Ticket’s Please at 39 Foster St. In Perth (Jo’s Clothes), by phone at 613-485-6434 or online at www.ticketsplease.ca. Tickets can be reserved at Tickets Please and held for pick-up at the door.

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